Tag: false teacher

Investing

What do you think of when you read or hear of “walking in the truth”? Is it more than worshipping according to the New Testament pattern and baptizing for the remission of sins? What does the epistle of 2 John teach us about this important character trait?


Gary Pollard

II John 3 talks about living in truth and love. John was happy that they were following the truth, but they apparently weren’t following the way of love. We’ve looked at how John defines this love in I John 3, but as a quick refresher: “This is how we know what real love is — Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for each other. Suppose a believer who is rich enough to have all the necessities of life sees a fellow believer who is poor and does not even have basic needs. What if the rich believer doesn’t help the poor one? Then it is clear that God’s love is not in that person’s heart” (16-17). He uses almost exactly the same formula in II John, which reads like I John if it were condensed to one chapter. 

In II John 6 he says, “Loving means living the way he commanded us to live. God’s command is this: that you live a life of love. You heard this command from the beginning.” We won’t have “grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and his Son” if we aren’t living in both truth and love (3). This lady and her family had the truth thing down, but their love needed some work. John seems to go back and forth between the truth and love theme in this letter. 

There’s a warning sandwiched between two “truth” statements. “Be careful! Don’t lose the reward we have worked for. Be careful so that you will receive all of that reward” (8). Be careful about what? “There are many false teachers in the world now,” and, “Everyone must continue to follow only the teaching about Christ. Whoever changes that teaching does not have God” (7 and 9). The teaching about Christ is that he came to Earth and became human (cf. 7). 

We may take this for granted and/or may not appreciate its significance. Many gods competed for the hearts of nations, and most of world had a pantheon. Paul said that these gods are actually just demons (I Cor 10.19-20; cf. Deut 32.17, I Enoch 19.1), and there is compelling evidence of certain of these taking different names throughout history. The Egyptian god Thoth was worshipped by the Greeks as Hermes and the Romans as Mercury. Amun (Egypt) was Zeus (Greece) and Jupiter (Rome). Isis (Egypt) was Aphrodite (Greece) and Venus (Rome). Ra (Egypt) was Zeus (Greece), Jupiter (Rome), and Indra (Hindu). Hathor (Egypt) was a fixation for some time over the last couple of centuries, and has also been associated with Aphrodite (Greece) and Venus (Rome).1 This list is far from exhaustive. They’re all just archetypes used by demons to manipulate and derail civilizations. 

No god took human form23 and lived a very public life doing good for others in the most selfless possible way. No god was perfectly innocent. But God made himself human, was morally perfect, and sacrificed his physical body before coming back to life. That last action was a promise — we’ll get that too! God becoming human for our sake is the most beautiful narrative ever conceived. God becoming human revealed the Great Mystery to all of humanity for the first time (Eph 3.4-6, Col 4.3): there is a greater power, he wants a relationship with humanity, and he’s coming back to save his family when earth is destroyed. 

With this truth in our hearts, God expects us to capitalize on any opportunities we have to show selfless love to our Christian family, and then to all people we encounter. 

Don’t save treasures for yourselves here on earth. Moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, save your treasures in the heavens, where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is (Mt 6.19-21). 

1 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2017, October 27). 11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses
2At the very least it’s curious that many polytheistic cultures believed in an incorporeal afterlife. A physical God and a physical resurrection repulsed the Gnostics, who were certainly influenced by Egyptian theology. The Egyptians believed in a non-physical afterlife, as did many or most other religions (sadly, many Christians do, too). While it may or may not be accurate, Enoch claims that demons are the spirits (consciousness) of human/watcher offspring who’ve been relieved of their bodies (15.8-9). If that’s true, it’s at least interesting that most of the cultures they influenced also despised the concept of a physical afterlife. Our God came back to life in a real, physical body and promised us the same. It’s real hope. Their gods are smoke and mirrors and offer no tangible, practical hope. 
3I’m not talking about humans whose actions ultimately led their deification, but primordial “gods” considered superior to humanity by the cultures who worship them. 

SUCH AN EASY, DANGEROUS THING TO DO

Neal Pollard

There’s an old joke out there that goes, “Have you stopped beating your wife?”  If you say “yes,” you imply that you used to do it.  If you say “no,” you suggest that you are still doing it.  Obviously, the question may be where the problem lies.  If you do not beat your wife, the question would not be relevant and certainly not fair.

“I hear Brother So N So holds this position,” that “School X teaches error on such and such,” and that “Congregation A is ‘off’ on that.”  Too often, maybe based on a feeling that the source is credible, a person gullibly accepts the accusation at face value and even passes it along to others.  Of course, some are very blatant and public in teaching things that are contrary to the Word of God. They loudly proclaim and proudly publish their false views, but the aforementioned innuendoes and intimations are an altogether different matter. Why these rumors and accusations get started is sometimes hard to pinpoint.  Is it jealousy, misunderstanding coupled with indiscretion, meanness, or possibly something more benign?  Writing about presumption last year, I urged the presumptuous to “substantiate before you propagate, and then only carefully and prayerfully” (https://preacherpollard.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/the-problems-with-presumption/).

Solomon wrote that “a good name is to be more desired than great wealth” (Prov. 22:1) and that “A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth” (Ecc. 7:1).  While we are the primary stewards of our “good names,” others can tarnish it unfairly.

It is good to ask, “Do I know this rumor to be true?” Or, “Is it a matter of judgment and opinon with which I disagree, or is it truly a matter of doctrine and eternal truth?” Or, “Does the ‘reporter’ have an agenda that needs to be considered?” Or, “Why do I want to pass this along?”

“Slander” is a verbal offense that should not be in the Christian’s repertoire (Psa. 15:3; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; 1 Pet. 2:1).  That is “old man” activity!  It is easy to besmirch someone’s character and reputation, but what a dangerous thing to do.  May we bridle our tongues lest we set fires (Js. 3:3,6).

Don’t Preach!

Neal Pollard

What an odd thing to say, especially when our Lord (Mark 16:15; Acts 10:42) and Paul (2 Tim. 4:2) say to preach!  I’m not saying don’t preach at all, but there’s too much “preaching” that is not really preaching.  We must not preach that way.

  • Don’t preach self!  No matter how funny, folksy, charismatic, creative, good-looking, glamorous, smart, or suave I might be, it’s not about me.  I am no Savior. I am a sinner proclaiming the Savior.
  • Don’t preach doubt!  People already wrestle mightily with doubts.  Don’t reinforce them.  Clear away such cobwebs with the definitive, hopeful, concrete message of truth.
  • Don’t preach man-made doctrine!  It’s a foundation of sand.  It will land countless people on the Lord’s left hand at the day of reckoning.  If a doctrine is at odds with the gospel, keep it from the message.
  • Don’t preach unprepared!  Every hearer deserves a well-planned, well-thought-out, and well-practiced sermon.  They are giving their time.  Make sure you have put in yours.
  • Don’t preach in a pandering way!  Audience analysis is helpful, but don’t “play to the crowd.” It seems insincere and disingenuous. Don’t carry the standard down to the people. Call the people up to the standard.
  • Don’t preach philosophy!  Philosophers prefer questions without answers more than answering questions.  “What ifs” may be fun with sports teams and political elections, but they too often tear down rather than build up faith.
  • Don’t preach arrogantly!  The preacher, George Bailey, would often say, “A man wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package.”  How many times have people echoed the sentiments of the Greeks, “Sir, we want to see Jesus!” (cf. John 12:21).
  • Don’t preach timidly!  Should we apologize for the Lord’s message?  We never want to be harsh, antagonistic, or in any way present an obstacle with negativity or our presentation, but we must have the courage to share what the Lord said. If the Lord commands it, we must convey it, even if it’s difficult to do so.
  • Don’t preach indistinctly!  Truth stands out. We must let it.  We cannot hide the parts that may make the church or the preacher seem in the minority or at odds with prevailing views.  We must be Micaiahs, intently committed to preach with this philosophy: “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that shall I speak” (1 Kin. 22:14).

Instead, preach the Word!  Saturate your message with His message.  The late Wendell Winkler would say, “Fill your lesson with Scripture. At least that much of it will be right!  Let God get a word in edgewise!”  Some have convinced themselves that they know better than God does what makes sermons effective.  The old song, “None of Self and all of Thee,” is in order here.  Hide behind the cross and lift Him up.  Being thoroughly biblical, applicable, and practical, we will grow the church and we will grow people.  If one is prone to veer from His pattern and example of New Testament preaching, may we ask such a one is genuine, loving candor, “Don’t preach!”

(Carl preaching the word in Cambodia last month)

THE FAKE SIGNER

mandela-sign-langu_2763133k

Neal Pollard

One of the stories coming out of the much-publicized memorial for Nelson Mandela is of a man who passed himself off as a language interpreter for the deaf.  The unidentified man, who stood beside international dignitaries including the president of the United States, was confirmed to be a charlatan by sign language experts.  His hand motions were meaningless, but his apparent attempt to make a quick buck outraged the deaf all around the world.  Apparently, this is the second time this man has pulled the wool over official’s, um, ears.  Driven by greed and taking advantage of the ignorance of the ones who hire them, people like this man have duped quite a few people.  None of them ever pulled off a hoax of this magnitude, though.

Perhaps words like audacious, covetous, or callous may come to your mind, hearing about this event, but a far greater travesty happens routinely around this nation and around the world.  Men (and women) pass themselves off as experts, but what they allege to be a truthful message is patently false.  Sunday after Sunday, they pass off error as truth.  Because too many do not study their Bibles or think for themselves, they are duped by those they trust.  The greatest tragedy is that the consequences of such dishonesty are infinitely greater in these scenarios.  Souls will be lost and not just the souls of the teachers.  The hearers will have believed a lie (cf. 2 Th. 2:11; 2 Tim. 4:4).  The preachers and teachers will “receive a stricter judgment” (Jas. 3:1) for scratching their itching ears (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

The challenge in preaching is for both classes, the speaker and the listener. The speaker must declare only what is right and the listener must hear with discernment (cf. Heb. 5:14).  God will not allow any “fakes” to escape His notice.